I had an elective class in college on popular arts and one of the things that stuck with me, despite never having watched the show, was that
I Love Lucy was very innovative. Per Google AI:
I Love Lucy was pioneering for its use of multiple, simultaneously filming cameras and a live studio audience. It was also one of the first TV shows to be shot on 35mm film, rather than broadcast live.
Some other facts, per
lucydesi.com:
#1
Lucille Ball agreed to star in
I Love Lucy only if her real-life husband was cast in the co-starring role. Network executives and sponsors, reflecting xenophobic attitudes of the 1950s, hesitated to showcase an intermarriage on television. As Lucy remembered: They “said the public wouldn’t believe I was married to Desi.” Lucille Ball held her ground and ultimately proved that the American public not only accepted Desi Arnaz but venerated him as one of the most influential artists of the era, and of the 20th century.
There are some good ones if you care to read further. I'll just add a couple more.
#13
“Lucy Goes to the Hospital,” an episode featuring the birth of Little Ricky, was viewed by 44 million people—15 million more viewers than would tune in to see President Eisenhower’s inauguration the next day. With 71.7% of American households tuned in, it remains one of the most-viewed broadcasts in TV history.
#17
Although network executives refused the expense of shooting a television series on high-quality film, Arnaz and Ball insisted. They offered to pick up the tab for the extra expense under the condition that they would retain ownership of the films. That negotiation is widely considered one of the smartest business decisions in the history of American entertainment, as Desilu Studios went on to invent the concept of the “rerun” and use profits from the
I Love Lucy show syndication to fund the growth of the studio.
